Liquid crystal display

Abstract

A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, gate lines on the first substrate, a gate insulating layer on the gate lines, a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer, data lines and a drain electrode on the semiconductor layer, a passivation layer which covers the data lines and the drain electrode and in which a contact hole that partially exposes the drain electrode is defined, a common electrode above the passivation layer, a pixel electrode connected with the drain electrode through the contact hole, overlapped with the common electrode, and including a plurality of branch electrodes connected to each other through a connection portion, a contact portion extended from the connection portion and connected with the drain electrode, and a protrusion protruding toward a neighboring pixel and provided at least one corners among the connection portion or the contact portion of the pixel electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid crystal display comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 gate lines disposed on the first substrate; 
 a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate lines; 
 a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer; 
 data lines and a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer; 
 a passivation layer which covers the data lines and the drain electrode and in which a contact hole which partially exposes the drain electrode is defined; 
 a common electrode provided above the passivation layer; 
 a pixel electrode which is electrically connected with the drain electrode through the contact hole, overlapped with the common electrode, and comprises:
 a plurality of branch electrodes connected to each other through a connection portion from upper portions and lower portions thereof; 
 a contact portion which is extended from the connection portion, and electrically connected with the drain electrode through the contact hole; and 
 a protrusion protruding toward a neighboring pixel of the plurality of branch electrodes is provided at least one corners among the connection portion or the contact portion of the pixel electrode; and 
 
 a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate, 
 wherein, in a whole area of the protrusion, a width of the protrusion is gradually decreased toward an end thereof such that the protrusion has first and second end sides which respectively extend in directions different from a length extension direction of the protrusion. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided by being extended from a pixel branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes and is provided in the same plane as the plurality of branch electrodes. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided in a top end of a rightmost branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes. 
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal display of  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is provided in the top end of at least one branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes. 
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal display of  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion and the gate lines define an angle of about 0 degree to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided in the lower end of a rightmost branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes. 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal display of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusion and the gate lines define an angle of about 0 degree to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
       8. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided in one corner of a contact area where the pixel electrode contacts the drain electrode. 
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion and the gate lines define an angle of about 0 degree to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display of  claim 8 , wherein a pixel electrode addition portion is provided in one side of the contact portion of the pixel electrode, and an edge of the pixel electrode and an edge of the plurality of branch electrodes are placed on the same line. 
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided in at least one place of a top end of at least one branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes, a right lower end of a branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes, and one corner of a contact portion where the pixel electrode contacts the drain electrode. 
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein liquid crystals in an area where the protrusion is provided are arranged in a direction which is the same as the direction in which liquid crystals of a peripheral area are arranged. 
     
     
       13. A liquid crystal display comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 gate lines disposed on the first substrate; 
 a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate lines; 
 a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer; 
 data lines and a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer; 
 a passivation layer which covers the data lines and the drain electrode and in which a contact hole which partially exposes the drain electrode is defined; 
 a common electrode provided above the passivation layer; 
 a pixel electrode which is electrically connected with the drain electrode through the contact hole, overlapped with the common electrode, and comprises:
 a plurality of branch electrodes connected to each other in a connection portion at lower portions thereof and separated from each other at upper portions thereof, thereby providing a fork shape, 
 a contact portion which is extended from the connection portion, and electrically connected with the drain electrode through the contact hole, and 
 a protrusion which protrudes toward a neighboring pixel of the plurality of branch electrodes, and is provided in an end of at least one of the connection portion, an upper portion of a branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes, and the contact portion of the pixel electrode; and 
 
 a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate, 
 wherein, in a whole area of the protrusion, a width of the protrusion is gradually decreased toward an end thereof such that the protrusion has first and second end sides which respectively extend in directions different from a length extension direction of the protrusion. 
 
     
     
       14. The liquid crystal display of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion is provided in at least one place of a top end of at least one branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes, a right lower end of a branch electrode of the plurality of branch electrodes, and one corner of a contact area where the pixel electrode contacts the drain electrode. 
     
     
       15. The liquid crystal display of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion and the gate lines define an angle of about 0 degree to about 90 degrees.